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Man who threw boiled water on gays gets 40 years

Martin Blackwell, 48, was convicted of 10 counts of aggravated assault and aggravated battery and was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Wednesday (24 August).

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Marquez Tolbert and boyfriend Anthony Gooden suffered second and third degree burns from the attack.

Victim Mr Gooden, who had told his family he was gay just hours before the attack, was left needing skin grafts after more 60 per cent of his body was badly burnt and he was put in a medical coma.

Blackwell, who stayed at the house when he passed through while out in his truck saw the men sleeping, boiled a saucepan of water and poured it over the pair.

He went to the kitchen, filled a pot with water and set it to boil which later he poured the boiling water over them, The Washington Post reported.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Newkirk reportedly pointed to the overwhelming evidence in the case and also slammed Blackwell for acting in “a soulless and malicious way”, as the Tribune notes.

On Feb. 12, Martin Blackwell found his girlfriend’s son and a friend sleeping together after the couple worked an overnight shift. “I think justice has been served”.

Blackwell was dating Gooden’s mother at the time of the attack.

Tolbert testified that Blackwell told him to “get out of my house with all that gay” after scalding him with the water.

Gooden had visible burn scars across his face when he took the stand.

The prosecutor said Blackwell’s actions were well-thought-out. “You could be with somebody for a long time and never know who they are”, she told WSB.

They both testified Tuesday that they suffered great pain and were unable to perform even the most basic everyday tasks — eating, bathing and using the bathroom — without help when they got out of the hospital.

He was not charged with a hate crime as Georgia is one of five states that does not recognise it.

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Shortly after, Marquez spoke about the effects of the burns, saying: “The pain doesn’t let you sleep”. Blackwell is accused of pouring hot water on her son and another man as they slept.

Martin Blackwell sentencing